The Fifth Estate

Yes, I had to wait for The Fifth Estateto be released on DVD & Blu-Ray before I could watch it. Unfortunately, the run in theaters here was incredibly short during a very busy time for me, and I missed it. Thankfully, the wait for it to arrive on DVD wasn’t too long.

The Fifth Estateis the story of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Daniel Domscheit-Berg. Before this movie, most of what I knew about WikiLeaks and its founder came from American media, so pretty much nothing positive. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this film, but I’ve come to trust that Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t choose crappy roles.

Originally, my review of this film centered around the similarities and differences between the men portrayed in the movie, but I realized (after I was about 700 words in) that these are real people. I’m not a psychologist and I don’t know these people or their history. Everything I know about them comes from the media or this film.

However, I couldn’t let this film pass by without writing about it. This is one of those that made a lasting impression. The Fifth Estate makes me think, long after the credits rolled, about information and power. Who has the information? Who decides what is important for the public to know? Who has the power? Who feels powerless? Who actually is powerless? All of this has been swimming around in my head. It started long before The Fifth Estate hit theaters, but the movie definitely helped coalesce some of these thoughts.

I began to watch and read the news in a new way, looking for the truth, seeing what stories weren’t being aired or were being glossed over, digging through the internet to find more information when something caught my attention. Trying to find more to base an opinion on than what the biased mainstream media offered. There’s a lot we never hear or read about. A lot of that is important stuff too. Logically, it isn’t hard to grasp, but the reality is a lot bigger than I realized.

In the end, what I can say is that while I disagree with where Assange ended up, I do believe that it all started as a good idea. Exposing corruption, revealing corporate and political deceits is important, because when these things are shown in the light, they do change the world. Making it safe for someone to come forward with this information is important too.

Knowledge really is power, and individuals know they aren’t being given all the information. Maybe this is why so many people I know feel like they can’t make a difference. They don’t vote on Election Day, they don’t speak out, and they don’t get involved. Is this because they are aware they aren’t getting the whole story? Do they feel powerless because they know that the really important stuff is hidden away and they don’t know where to begin to find it? Do they fear the consequences? I don’t know.

Truthfully, I don’t have any answers after watching The Fifth Estate. What I have are questions, lots and lots of questions. There’s a line between safety and deceit when it comes to disseminating information. How do we determine when that line’s been crossed? What is too much information? Who do we let decide?

The Fifth Estate took on a difficult subject with, admittedly, biased source material and crafted a story that raises more questions than it answers. I think that’s the point. It doesn’t pretend to have the answers and it doesn’t pretend to be the definitive source for all things WikiLeaks. That has caused some people to rain down a torrent of negative reviews. Respectfully, I disagree. I think The Fifth Estate did exactly what it set out to do. It sparked conversation and debate.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Assange, done without the benefit of in-person interviews (Assange refused to meet with him), takes a person the media cast as a villain and shows us a man, a man who began a quest with good intentions. Daniel Brühl, Laura Linney, Stanley Tucci and the rest of the cast performed beautifully, but I’ll admit my eye was on Assange (I mean Cumberbatch playing Assange. That guy does it every single time.). Being from Bradley/Chelsea Manning’s home state, the media coverage of the events was particularly damning, and seeing the passion and initial purpose behind the WikiLeaks’s conception gave me an incentive to find more of the story on my own.

The film sparks curiosity, debate, thought, and interest in a topic that deserves discussion. Just as the true purpose of WikiLeaks was to provide the public with the information to draw their own conclusions, The Fifth Estate does the same. What do you think?

‘Til next time,

Jessica

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About ilovegeekology101

Why Geekology 101 you ask? Well, my horizons they are expandin', and I have discovered that I have barely scratched the surface of the amazing stories and avenues to explore. Want to take the journey with me?
View all posts by ilovegeekology101

Follow me on Twitter

Recent Posts: EnergyGirl101

Neil deGrasse Tyson, is quickly becoming one of my favorite people to listen to. Now, I’ve been crazy busy, and I haven’t gotten to see Cosmos. This is one of those I’m really kind of upset to have missed, but hopefully things will slow down soon. When that happens, I’ll be able to catch it online, […]

Next week, PennEnergy Research and the Oil & Gas Journal Site License program are hosting a breakfast with EMC. A panel of experts will be on hand to discuss Critical Issues Facing the Energy Industry, specifically enabling a culture of safety and SEMS compliance. Oil & Gas Operators the world over have always been concerned […]

Sunny California’s Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System has caused problems for pilots traversing the region. Two anonymous complaints were filed in August, before the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System ever came online. A pilot complaint stated that the intense brightness from the mirrors made it impossible to look in the direction of the plant, and […]

They’re all going to be at the Energy Thought Summit. What’s that? Well, my friend, keep reading and you’ll find out. (Maybe watch the video too.) Energy Thought Summit (ETS) is happening this month in Austin, Texas. On March 24th – 25th the energy industry is taking over the Paramount Theater for a two-day event that promises to […]